Slashdot Mirror

Actually the character generation system is one of the most detailed, if not the most detailed, ever written. Character visuals are extremely customisable. The graphics are excellent, check out the offical screenshots. If they look bland to you, it's because they're realistic and more immersive, not cartoony :P

Furthermore, the gameplay is looking far more varied than anything else. New, more complicated AI. *Entirely* new and interesting combat system. Sailing on player-made ships to new continents! Interesting travel instead of travel removed as a mechanic.

Crafting protected from massive mudflation by:
* Localised economies, caused by the lack of instant-travel
* Crafters skilling up, often in groups, on 'workorders' for NPC cities. No more market flooded with 900,000 banded-wristguards :)
* More careful itemisation

Entirely new sphere of play called Diplomacy... seems to border on an MMO RTS!

Take a deeper look guys, there is so much more to Vanguard than these little previews.

Actually the character generation system is one of the most detailed, if not the most detailed, ever written. Character visuals are extremely customisable. The graphics are excellent, check out the offical screenshots. If they look bland to you, it's because they're realistic and more immersive, not cartoony :P

Furthermore, the gameplay is looking far more varied than anything else. New, more complicated AI. *Entirely* new and interesting combat system. Sailing on player-made ships to new continents! Interesting travel instead of travel removed as a mechanic.

Crafting protected from massive mudflation by:
* Localised economies, caused by the lack of instant-travel
* Crafters skilling up, often in groups, on 'workorders' for NPC cities. No more market flooded with 900,000 banded-wristguards :)
* More careful itemisation

Entirely new sphere of play called Diplomacy... seems to border on an MMO RTS!

Take a deeper look guys, there is so much more to Vanguard than these little previews.

If you do one thing after reading these previews, i beg you to at least go to http://www.silkyvenom.com/ and read the FAQ and Wiki to find out what the game is actually about. You cannot preview Vanguard in 2 pages and give it justice. There is more to this game than what these "previews" explain, and the things that people are complaining about are there for a reason. You might not agree with the reason, but there generally is one and these previews don't go into that much at all.

This game won't be for everyone, and that's fine. World of Warcraft has 5 Million players, and guess what. It aint for everyone. If you look at Vanguard and can't see that it in many ways it is advancing the genre then you haven't looked hard enough.

* Advanced Encounter System with Encounter Routes.
* A more random spawn system.
* 3 sphere's of gameplay. Adventure, Crafting, Diplomacy.
* Cities and Towns as content rather than nice scenery while you pawn off your loot.
* Meaningful travel. It may take longer, but you aren't doing it often. Look if travel took ages in WoW it would suck, due mainly cause you were going from point A to point B repeatedly (i.e. Ironforge to Dungeon/Zone then back). In Vanguard, when you go somewhere you stay there. Travelling somewhere else in the world is a gameplay decision as big as deciding who/what you want to kill, with adventure encounters designed to make travel interesting.
* Job system to help alleviate perfect group whilst still making classes unique and fun. Unlike EQ II.
* tons more innovative stuff.

I may sound like i'm selling the game here, but i have no idea if these featueres will be fun to me or not, i don't know if they'll pull it off. I'm willing to give them a shot though, and not just pass them off as oldskool EQ crap. Read about the game and you'll see that there is more to it than that, and it's your loss if you don't.

Its already been stated they are not trying to compete with WoW. Read before you start randomly bashing something. http://www.silkyvenom.com/pages/faq.php

It seems cookie cutter at first, but as I was reading through the developers responses to the questions posed, it seems like they wanted to do what has been done before, but *correctly* and with game longevity in mind.

(And by longevity I don't mean six hour long raids, though they may exist, the devs have stated that they want their game to be primarily group focused. Not so lonely that you're soloing, not so big that you're just a faceless guy in a 40 man crowd)

Newer games are diluting the traditional MMO model with easier progression, instanced content, increasing soloability, and a determination to please the casual player. Almost all of the new MMOs announced at E3 follow this EQ-lite model. Vanguard distinguishes itself from the pack by focusing on socialization (putting the MM back in MMORPG), a massive immersive world, and a long-term challenge. Vanguard won't be for everybody, but it stands alone offering a deep, complex, long-term game, while the competition takes the WoW model and simplifies it down even further, offering quick and easy gameplay and instant gratification. If you don't want what Sigil's going to offer, that's cool, but for those who do, it's Vanguard or bust. Those wanting more info on Vanguard should check out http://www.silkyvenom.com/, one of Vanguard's affiliated fansites.

"Originally written by Sir Bruce - Also demoed at the ATI booth, V:SoH looks intriguing, but unfortunately their servers were down when I went to take a look at the title, so all they could show was a tour through some of the game world and dungeons to show off the artwork and level design. This title is highly anticipated by some of the MMOG hardcore, as it comes from ex-EverQuest developers Brad McQuaid and Jeff Butler, but aside from the graphics and the promise of in-game voice chat it does not seem to be very innovative over the original EQ1 design. The game is designed to be group-focused and highly challenging, which may mean it's too much of a time investment for the more casual MMOG player. If the game were coming out this year, I would have higher hopes for it, but I feel it may get lost behind the mass of other fantasy-themed MMORPG titles."

I wonder that Sir Bruce got any kind of an accurate representation of this game when the servers were down and he was unable to see many of the amazing qualities of Vanguard: Saga of Heroes. There are other videos that show a spectacular panorama of the game, as well as a visual look at the races starting on the three opening continents. Go here to see them and form your own opinions. (I can't post the direct URL, so be sure to click on SV's E3 coverage at the top to take you to the video links.)

Although I am a fan, I am first and foremost a reporter and feel my first loyalty in my news coverage is to the subscribing public. Having said that, I also have to say that this hardcore MMO group referred to in Sir Bruce's report has been following the game religiously since it was first a twinkle in Brad McQuaid's eyes. They have extracted as much as they could from the zealously guarded "sekret sauce" (an in-term for game developments).

In addition to videos, there is a seamless world, with little to no zoning, and it is HUGE. The crafting in this game is amazing, much more detailed and relevant than any other game I have heard of (with the possible exception of ATITD), and players can advance through crafting skills. The art of diplomacy, in addition to adventuring and crafting, rounds out the triumvirate of themes whereby a player can move ahead in levels.

All the characters are customizable with such lifelike appearance and movements that it is genuinely heart-stopping. Player-built homes will be a part of the game. PvP will be part of it as well, from the start, on special PvP servers, and although Sir Bruce is right about grouping being a major focus of Vanguard, there will be ample opportunity as well for the more casual player to solo. Instancing will be all but done away with in Vanguard and replaced by a mechanism that provides maps that drop from mobs and allow groups to move through exclusive pathways to treasured items and quests. Environment, NPC attitudes, skills acquired--these all impact on how the game plays for the individual. Grinding to level has been replaced by skill and knowledge.

Without writing an entire article myself, it is hard to tell you all the things I have observed and written about in the last year. I urge readers to check it out for themselves. And I respectfully invite Sir Bruce to take another look at what is available.